The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-09
raE DEATH OF BLucHER.

ISIS. the prissiAn Field Marshal Blueher.
the sayioro of Wellington at Waterloo, ana
whom nobody liked because Of his rude
mes and brutality, was pat ON the retired
lists. Disheartened by his removal and
reduced TO iIaction and ohscurity, ne
lef, Berlin md went 10 reside in his cas-
tie .itna,ed IN pomerznia. Soon be ieh
into deep melancholy, rendered mone
intense by dropsy and inflammation OF
the chest. A strange change IN his char
acter took place That rough soldier be-
"a .se timid. even polirpou. lie wo'iid
not remain alone in the darkne~s soli-
tuds threw him into singular ang'isslH--
His state of health sas reported 10 The
king. who estecuss-s ard io,ei him
great deal. The menareii having heard
that al several times the Marshal had ex-
pressed the wish Of seeing him once more
before he died. resolved 10 visit HIM.
Leaving Berlin in the morning, the
King of Prussia arrived in krieblowI'z
early in the evening. Immediately he
xas conducted to Biuchers room. The
sick man. aged - years. was reclining on
a sofa placed before large chimney, in
which enormous loes Of wood were burn
ing Their flames illuminated the room
and cast mobile and red reflections on
the features Of the old man wrapped up
in bearskin. Al the entrance of his SOW
ereign in bis apartment, Blucher tried TO
rise out of respect for his august visitor.
who prevented him from doing 50. The
king took chair and SAT by the side OF
the Marshal.
Blucher ordered 10 be left alone with
his master. When every one had left
the room he said:
sire. have humbly requested your
majesty to come here, in this castle OF
Krieblowitz; rather than not see you |
would have gone 10 Berlin myself, al
though am dying. have secret to
confide TO your majesty, terrible one.
VIII my king allow me to speak
Certainly. my dear Marshal"
Beior, listening to ny narrative, sire.
look at me we'll Assure yourself that l
am in the fnll possession Of my senses
and that am not lunatic. Sometimes
| believe to be on the verge of ins unity +;
and doubt if lam not taking yesterdays
vision for a remembrance Of days gone
bv. But no. he added. drawing gold
bracelet from bis pocket, no, all is true,
all is real. and am sure Of what J am
saving.
Listen 10 me, your majesty
@when. in 1856, the Seven Years War
began. my father. gho inhabited his cas-
tie of Gross Renzow, sent me to the ma
nor of our relatives, situated in Rugen
Island. After Il while the Russian gov
ernmenl offered me the grade Of cornet
in the Black Hussars regiment Iaccept-
ed Of a furlough 10 afford me the oppor-
tunity Of paying visit to my family
that had not seen for months. A leave
Of absence was granted to me.
"On my way 10 Gross Renzow | found
all that part of the Aecklenburg horribly
devastated. Arriving about four miles
from home became aware that my car
riage could not ascend the new sleepy
road conducting to the house Of my an
cestors. abandoned It, and pursued my
tourney on horseback, followed by one oI
my servants
" II was fifty-nine years ago tins very
DAY, the l2ih of August, and at the houi
indicated now by this antique clock-hal
past eleven. A dreadful tempest SHOOK
the trees. the flashes OF lightning blinded
me and the reports Of thunder deafenec
me the rain was pouring. After sallop
ing quite awhile in the forest arrived
before the castle alone my servant haf
lost his way through the inclemency o
the weather
Without dismounting | knocked a
the door with my whip. Nobody answer
ed INV call that ! repeated three time
without being answered. Out Ofpatienc'
alighied from my horse, assembled tn
stoop and entered the castle. No light
no noise anywhere. ! ayow that IN.
heart went 10 ray throat and chill crep
through my body
'What foolishness thought /; th'
castle is deserted my family has gone t
the city. No matter, a. am here,
must arrange myself a. web as possible
And crossed hall and went To m.
fathers room. A fire half eXtinyuishe'
was smoking in the chimney; by 1T
faint light saw my father, my mothe
and my four sisters, seated around tin
fireplace; they rose when they perceive'
me. | ran to kiss my father; he stoppe'
me with gesture; extended my arm
To INV mother; she fell back with sa'
motion of the head called my sister:
each separately they took each other 10
the hand without answering me. The
the whole of ihemreturned 10 their seat
a. 10 not YOU know me any more ,
exclaimed / l. il ike this fau,il
ought to receive a son aud a brother
Have you already heard of my entranc
in the Russian service2 ! could not ne
fuse. Remember that the first thing ! IL
is 10 come and inform You oi my action
What my father, Won q" not speak NJ
mother, You keep silent Have you ior
gotten, my sisters, our mutual tendernes
and the plays OF our chiidhocd-thos